I wanted to write something about the great progress being carried on linux as OS of choice for a professional Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) since a long time. With the inclusion of the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) into the 2.6 kernels, time has come to extend my experiences to all of you.

Linux needs MONEY. In the form of this: Music on Linux will leap ahead when current Windows software co.s, such as Steinberg or Cakewalk port some of their software to Linux. If probably won't happen w Cakewalk, or other MS asskissers, but these programs have a maturity and history of problem solving Linux apps can't match.

Even with a great recording program, which has sequencing features, and midi editing on piano roll view, there's still a lack of sampling/synthesis, and Linux is missing other very interesting stuff available on Windows, such as Ableton, Transcribe!, and others too numerous to name.

However, my desire to "divorce" Gates is strong enough to make me find a way to combine the use of hardware and software, so that what linux is missing--say, synthesis--I can make up for on hardware. Besides, running everything on computer is not quite musical enuff for me--I like keyboards. I find that no infintesimally low latency can compare with the response of a keyboard VS a "midi controller" running soft synths or samples. The trick is to find an affordable solution that balances hard- and software.